Auto accidents are a big problem in Virginia, with drivers and passengers suffering serious injuries every day. And unfortunately, many people don’t know what to do or where to turn following an auto accident—so they fail to do anything at all. Don’t make this mistake. If you’ve been injured in an auto accident in Virginia, contact an attorney immediately, as you may be entitled to compensation for damages. Below are some auto accident statistics in Virginia.
Auto Accident Statistics in Virginia
Fatalities
In Virginia, the motor vehicle occupant death rate (OMV) is 6.8 per 100,000 occupants. There are a number of factors that impact this rate, including:
- Seat belt usage
- Weather conditions
- Infrastructure
- Impaired drivers
- Texting
Costs
In addition to the loss of human life that results from automobile accidents in Virginia each year, there are also a number of related economic losses. In fact, motor vehicle crash deaths cost the state of Virginia approximately $1 billion each year. These deaths also result in nearly $10 million in medical costs and $940 million in work loss costs, totaling almost $950 million a year. Nationwide, automobile crash fatalities cost nearly $45 billion in medical and work loss costs every year.
Drunk and impaired driving
Drunk driving and impaired driving are major causes of car accidents nationwide, and Virginia is no exception. In fact, nearly 3000 people in Virginia have died in drunk driving crashes in the last decade. Nationally, the average rate for crash deaths caused by drunk drivers is 3.3 deaths per 100,000 occupants. In Virginia, the rate is 2.5 deaths per 100,000 occupants. And when analyzing drunk driving deaths by gender, 5.2 males per 100,000 occupants die in drunk driving crashes nationally, and 4.1 males per 100,000 occupants die in drunk driving crashes in Virginia each year. For females, 1.5 deaths occur per 100,000 occupants nationally, and there are 0.9 deaths per 100,000 occupants in Virginia.
Each year more than 5,000 teens are killed in motor vehicle collisions, an average of six teens daily. Teen drivers account for over 30% of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries. Texting has been a significant factor in the rise of teen auto crashes.
Gender
The OMV death rate is more than double for males than for females in Virginia. In Virginia, 9.3 males out of 100,000 die in car accidents each year, as opposed to 4.3 females per 100,000. The national average for death rate by gender is 4.7 females and 9.4 males per 100,000 occupants.
Contact our Virginia personal injury department
Clearly, automobile accidents in Virginia are a common occurrence. If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in an auto accident in Virginia, you need experienced Virginia legal representation on your side. At Walker Jones, PC, our experienced Virginia personal injury attorney Susan Pierce is dedicated to helping you receive the compensation you and your family deserve. A Virginia personal injury lawyer for over 30 years, Susan Pierce is a seasoned trial attorney and will work tirelessly for you, guiding you through the legal system while ensuring that you receive effective and aggressive legal representation. So, if you or a loved one have been injured in an auto accident, please call our office today for a free consultation.